A los cuarenta y dos años, Elsie Lindtner abandona a su marido y se va a vivir a una isla. Sólo dos sirvientas la acompañan, ningún criado. En su retiro, lleva un diario, escribe y recibe cartas. Tiene noticias de otras mujeres a quienes la pasión, la insatisfacción, la imaginación han conducido a la demencia, al adulterio, al suicidio. Ella tan solo cree en una irrevocable enemistad entre los sexos.

Fascinating epistolary novel about a woman in her early 40s who is struggling with perimenopause ("hysteria", tears, anxiety, other hormone issues) and the loss of her value as her childbearing years end (and she had no children) and her beauty fades.

I had never heard of this famous Danish author, and the book is over 100 years old, but it is still completely relevant, even though she is upper middle class, she has friends, discussed in detail, who are not as fortunate as she.

It is entirely possible that only women over age 40 will truly appreciate this work. ( )

Tagebuchaufzeichnungen und Briefe einer vierzigjährigen Frau